Pile driver



Dec. 24, 1963 'r. M. Kuss PILE DRIVER Filed June 1v. 1958 FIG. 2.

M -1 II. I o n I z m Mb 2 4 7 a w O M l A T I- J Y Ifl B 6) .4. 95 m E United States Patent Office 3,115,198 Patented Dec. 24, 1963 3,115,198 PlLE DRIVER Theodore M. Kuss, 121 Madison Ave, New York, N.Y. Filed June 17, 1953, Ser. No. 742,668 7 Claims. (Cl. 175-152) This invention relates to pile drivers.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with pile drivers as used for driving caissons or other tubular piles of comparatively large diameters. Heretofore, the practice in driving such elements has been to utilize a cap or anvil member which fits over the top of the caisson and transmits the blow from the ram or hammer, which strikes the center of the anvil, to the caisson. The ram itself reciprocates in a relatively massive frame which sits on the anvil or cap member, and the ram is of comparatively small diameter. The effect of interposing the anvil between ram and caisson is to dissipate or waste part of the otherwise available striking energy and the weight of the anvil and other stationary parts is considerable, so that only a fraction of the weight of the assembly is concentrated in the ram.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pile driver in which a maximum percentage of the weight of the entire assembly is concentrated in the ram itself.

Another object is to provide a direct blow of ram against caisson, eliminating any intermediate member which would absorb energy.

Another object is to provide a pile driver having minimum weight, height and diameter in use and requiring minimum space for shipment.

A pile driver embodying the invention in a preferred form will now first be described-with reference to the accompanying drawing and the features forming the invention will then be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of the pile driver;

FIG. 2 is a central axial section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view.

Referring now to the drawing, the pile driver is shown as surmounting a tubular pile or caisson 1, and comprising a ram, indicated generally at 2, slidable vertically on guides 3, and operated by means of a cylinder 4. The caisson or other tubular pile 1 may have a top section specially designed to take impact, or may be fitted with an impact resistant cushion or equalizer, where necessary. The ram 2 comprises a hollow cylindrical ram member 5 secured to a spider 6 to which, in turn, is secured the piston rod 7 of piston 8 reciprocating in the cylinder 9. Cylinder 9 is supported on a lower spider 10 which sits on the caisson 1 and has downward projecting lugs 11 fitting in the caisson so as to hold the pile driver in position on the caisson. The guide rods 3 are fastened at their lower ends in the spider 10 and at their upper ends in a spider 12 which may have a connection detail such as ring 13 to permit positioning and holding the entire as sembly by means of a derrick, as usual. Guide rods 3 pass through bores 14 in the arms of the spider 6, previously referred to, and through bores 15 in guide lugs 16 secured to the inner wall of the element 5, for guiding the same, as mentioned above.

The lower end of the tubular ram element 5 is notched, as at 17, to accommodate the arms of lower spider 10 and is preferably grooved, as at 18, so as to fit over the upper end of the caisson 1.

The operation may be pneumatic or by steam, and a steam (or air) inlet pipe 20 and exhaust 21 are provided, along with a valve rod 22, the upper end of which is attached to the movable spider 6. The cylinder and valve 2 structure and operation are conventional and form, in themselves, no part of the present invention.

The diameter of ram element 5 as well as the other proportions of the pile driver may vary according to the diameter of pipe or caisson to be driven. For a six foot diameter caisson, the diameter of element 5 will also be about six feet, and a similar height (say, about 5'5") will give required mass with reasonable wall thickness. For example, an element 5 made of steel, in the proportions stated and having about six inches wall thickness, will have a weight of 25,000 pounds, a practical size for the ram for heavy driving. The working stroke may be as required, but a practical value of three feet will produce 75,000 foot pounds of striking energy per blow. The weight of the entire pile driver assembly may be under 40,000 pounds as compared with weights in excess of 56,000 pounds for pile hammer assemblies of other designs capable of similar duty. Maximum width exceeds the width of the caisson itself by only a few inches, as compared with the very considerable maximum diameter of types of pile drivers requiring auxiliary leads, and the overall height may be only about twelve feet, as compared with heights of twenty-four feet or so for existing equipment.

As will be apparent, the proportions and construction of the ram may be varied to suit particular requirements. While an integral ram is preferred, the ram member 5 may also be composed of sections divided vertically or horizontally, or telescoped within each other. In any case, it is preferred that the ram mass be distributed so that the mass radius is substantially the same as that of the pile and the ram is coaxial with the pile. Under these conditions, the striking mass is lined up with the driven mass so as to transmit maximum impact energy to the pile and produce minimum lateral deformation and vibration of ram and pile at impact. While a unitary hollow cylindrical ram member is ordinarily preferred, composite ram members of different structures and shapes may be utilized, provided they are coaxil with the pile and have substantially the same mass radius, so that the impact mass is symmetrically distributed around the pile and concentrated in alignment with its wall, as under these conditions fiexure and distortion of the ram element on impact, otherwise than in straight compression, are at a minimum.

What is claimed is:

1. A pile driving assembly for a tubular pile comprising a cylinder and piston and vertical guides supported on the pile and spaced circumferentially around the same, a hollow ram member surrounding the said cylinder and guides, the said ram member being coaxial with the pile and having a mass radius substantially equal to that of the pile, and means guiding the said ram member on the said guides for impact with the pile between said guides and connecting it to the said piston and cylinder for operation thereby.

2. A pile driving assembly for a tubular pile comprising a piston and cylinder and vertical guides supported on the pile and spaced circumferentially around the same, a hollow cylindrical ram member surrounding the said cylinder and guides, the said ram member being coaxial with the pile and having a mass radius substantially equal to that of the pile, and means guiding the said ram member on the said guides for impact with the pile between said guides and connecting it to the said piston and cylinder for operation thereby.

3. A pile driving assembly according to claim 2, in which the ram member has a groove in its lower face, fitting over the pile end in impact position.

4. A pile driving assembly comprising a piston and cylinder, vertical guide members surrounding the cylinder, a spider adapted to sit on a tubular pile and supporting the cylinder and guide members, a hollow cylindrical ram surrounding the said guide members and guided thereby for impact with the pile between them and means connecting the ram member to the piston for reciprocating the ram member.

5. A pile driving assembly comprising a piston and cylinder, vertical guide members surrounding the cylinder, a spider adapted to sit on a tubular pile and supporting the cylinder and guide members, a hollow cylindrical ram surrounding the said guide members and guided thereby for impact with the pile between them and means connecting the ram member to the piston for reciprocating the ram member, the said spider having means for positioning the assembly on a tubular pile with the ram coaxial therewith.

6. A pile driving assembly comprising a piston and cylinder, vertical guide members surrounding the cylinder, a spider adapted to sit on a tubular pile and supporting the cylinder and guide members, a hollow cylindrical ram surrounding the said guide members and guided thereby and means connecting the ram member to the piston for reciprocating the ram member, the said spider having means for positioning the assembly on a tubular pile with the ram coaxial therewith, and the lower end of the ram having recesses accommodating the spider when in impact position.

7. A pile driving assembly according to claim 6, in which the ram has a groove in its lower end, between the said recesses, for fitting over a tubular pile end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

4. A PILE DRIVING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PISTON AND CYLINDER, VERTICAL GUIDE MEMBERS SURROUNDING THE CYLINDER, A SPIDER ADAPTED TO SIT ON A TUBULAR PILE AND SUPPORTING THE CYLINDER AND GUIDE MEMBERS, A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL RAM SURROUNDING THE SAID GUIDE MEMBERS AND GUIDED THEREBY 